Network communication method based on software-defined networking and server using the method

ABSTRACT

An SDN-enabled network communication method is disclosed. A master TURN server sends a client an error response and assigns a relay switch as a backup server for the client using an alternate-server mechanism. Therefore, data streams of the client are directly transferred to the relay switch. With support by a shadow TURN server and an SDN controller, switches forwarding the data streams are managed according to the OpenFlow protocol to implement path optimization for the data streams.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to a network communication method based on software-defined networking.

BACKGROUND

Software-defined networking (SDN) is an approach to computer networking that allows network administrators to manage network services through abstraction of higher-level functionality. This is done by decoupling the system that makes decisions about where traffic is sent (the control plane) from the underlying systems that forward traffic to the selected destination (the data plane). The control plane communicates with the data plane via the OpenFlow protocol.

A hybrid SDN network utilizes both legacy hardwired switches and software programmable switches that use SDN protocols. This mixed mode of operation is found as service providers migrate legacy networks to SDN technology.

Under the hybrid SDN network; there are problems such as complicated configurations or additional hardware equipments that are required to increase the cost when initializing an existing network application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an SDN network communication system in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a flowchart of an embodiment of an SDN network communication method in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.

References to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”

In general, the word “module” as used hereinafter, refers to logic embodied in computing or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as in an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM). The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or computing modules and may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some non-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include CDs, DVDs, BLU-RAY, flash memory, and hard disk drives. The term “comprising”, when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like.

A software-defined networking (SDN) network communication method and system of the present disclosure introduces data streams into an SDN infrastructure using the Traversal Using Relays around Network Address Translation (TURN) protocol. In other words, data streams are transferred through relay servers using the TURN protocol. The method of disclosure operates in a hybrid network infrastructure, enabling the TURN data streams to be processed by network apparatuses, such as OpenFlow switches.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a software-defined networking (SDN) network communication system in accordance with the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, the SDN network communication system 10 includes a server 20, a first forwarding device 110, a second forwarding device 115, a third forwarding device 120, a fourth forwarding device 125, a first network 130, a second network 135 and a client A. In the embodiment, the server 20 comprises a processor (not shown), a storage unit (not shown), a TURN-SDN proxy 100 and an SDN controller 160. The TURN-SDN proxy 100 further comprises a master TURN server 140 and a shadow TURN server 150.

The one or more functional modules can include computerized code in the form of one or more programs that are stored in the storage unit (not shown), and executed by the processor (not shown) to provide functions of the server 20. The storage unit (not shown) can be a dedicated memory, such as an EPROM or a flash memory. Descriptions of the functional blocks are given with reference to FIG. 1.

In one embodiment, the first forwarding device 110 and the second forwarding device 115 are legacy devices, such as switches or routers. The third forwarding device 120 and the fourth forwarding device 125 are SDN devices complying with the OpenFlow protocol. The first network 130 and the second network 135 are wide area networks (WAN) or other types of networks. An embodiment of the SDN network communication system 10 comprises, but is not limited to, the described four forwarding devices.

The master TURN server 140 sends the client A an error response which assigns a relay switch as a backup server for the client A using an alternate-server mechanism. Therefore, data streams of the client A are directly transferred to the assigned relay switch. With support by the shadow TURN server 150 and the SDN controller 160, switches forwarding of the data streams are managed according to the OpenFlow protocol to implement path optimization for the data streams.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a flowchart of an embodiment of an SDN network communication method in accordance with the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a flowchart is presented in accordance with an example embodiment of a method 200 for the SDN network communication. The SDN network communication method 200 is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method 200 described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining the processing method 200. Each step shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B represents one or more processes, methods, or subroutines, carried out in the exemplary processing method 200. Additionally, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can change. The network communication method 200 begins at block 201.

At block 201, the master TURN server 140 receives an allocation request from the client A.

At block 202, the master TURN server 140 implements identity authentication to the client A to determine whether the client A belongs to a preset client.

At block 203, if the identity authentication is failed, the master TURN server 140 replies a first preset message, an error response 401, for example, to the client A. The error response 401 refers to Unauthentication defined in the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

At block 204, if the client A belongs to the preset client, the master TURN server 140 selects one of the first forwarding device 110, the second forwarding device 115, the third forwarding device 120 and the fourth forwarding device 125 as a relay device, the third forwarding device 120, for example, via the SDN controller 160. A relay device for the client A may be, but is not limited to, the forwarding device nearest the client A.

At block 205, the master TURN server 140 assigns a first Internet Protocol (IP) address and an access port to the client A according to the allocation request. A first IP address and the access port are mapped to the shadow TURN server 150, and are used to enable the client A to transfer the allocation request to the shadow TURN server 150.

At block 206, the master TURN server 140 instruct the SDN controller 160 to define forwarding rules for the relay device, the third forwarding device 210, for example. The forwarding rules complies with the following conditions: (1) the forwarding rules comply with the TURN protocol; (2) a source address described in the forwarding rules is directed to the client A; and (3) a destination address described in the forwarding rules is directed to the shadow TURN server 150. Thus, the allocation request is forwarded to the SDN controller 160 according to the forwarding rules.

At block 207, the master TURN server 140 replies a second preset message, an error response 300, for example, to the client A. The error response 300, which refers to Multiple Choices defined in HTTP, carries an IP address of the shadow TURN server 150.

At block 208, the client A delivers the allocation request to the relay device, the third forwarding device 210, for example. The relay device forwarded the allocation request to the SDN controller 160 according to the forwarding rules. The SDN controller 160 then forwarded the allocation request to the shadow TURN server 150.

At block 209, when the allocation request is received, the shadow TURN server 150 implements identity authentication to the client A to determine whether the client A belongs to a preset client.

At block 210, if the identity authentication is failed, the shadow TURN server 150 replies with a first preset message, an error response 401, for example, to the client A.

At block 211, if the client A belongs to the preset client, a second IP address is assigned to the relay device, the third forwarding device 210, for example.

At block 212, the shadow TURN server 150 instructs the SDN controller 160 to set a transmission path for transmitting data streams and sends a notification to SDN devices on the transmission path.

At block 213, the shadow TURN server 150 sends an allocation success instruction to the SDN controller 160. The SDN controller 160 forwards the allocation success instruction to the relay device, the third forwarding device 210, for example. The relay device then forwards the allocation success instruction to the client A.

At block 214, the client A transfers the data streams via the relay device, the third forwarding device 210, for example, and other SDN devices along the transmission path.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a server. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, executed by a master Traversal Using Relays around Network Address Translation (TURN) server, the method comprising: receiving an allocation request from a client; determining whether the client belongs to a preset category; selecting one of a plurality of forwarding devices as a relay device via a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) controller if the client belongs to the preset category; assigning a first Internet Protocol (IP) address and an access port to the client according to the allocation request; instructing the SDN controller to define forwarding rules for the relay device; replying a second error response to the client; and enabling the client to deliver the allocation request to the relay device, the relay device to forward the allocation request to the SDN controller according to the forwarding rules, and the SDN controller to forward the allocation request to a shadow TURN server.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: replying a first error response to the client if the client does not belong to the preset category.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first IP address and the access port are mapped to the shadow TURN server to enable the client to transfer the allocation request to the shadow TURN server.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the forwarding rules comply with a TURN protocol, a source address described in the forwarding rules is directed to the client, and a destination address described in the forwarding rules is directed to the shadow TURN server.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second error response carries a second IP address of the relay device.
 6. A server, applied to a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) network communication system, comprising: at least one processor; a non-transitory storage system coupled to the at least one processor and configured to store one or more programs configured to be executed by the at least one processor, the one or more programs comprising instructions for: receiving an allocation request from a client; determining whether the client belongs to a preset category; selecting one of a plurality of forwarding devices as a relay device via an SDN controller if the client belongs to the preset category; assigning a first Internet Protocol (IP) address and an access port to the client according to the allocation request; instructing the SDN controller to define forwarding rules for the relay device; replying a second error response to the client; and enabling the client to deliver the allocation request to the relay device, the relay device to forward the allocation request to the SDN controller according to the forwarding rules, and the SDN controller to forward the allocation request to a shadow Traversal Using Relays around Network Address Translation (TURN) server.
 7. The server as claimed in claim 6, further comprising instructions for: replying a first error response to the client if the client does not belong to the preset category.
 8. The server as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first IP address and the access port are mapped to the shadow TURN server to enable the client to transfer the allocation request to the shadow TURN server.
 9. The server as claimed in claim 6, wherein the forwarding rules comply with a TURN protocol, a source address described in the forwarding rules is directed to the client, and a destination address described in the forwarding rules is directed to the shadow TURN server.
 10. The server as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second error response carries a second IP address of the relay device. 